Elros

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Elros (First Age 525 – Second Age 442, aged 500 years) was the son Eärendil the Mariner, the great hero of the First Age, and his wife Elwing. He was the twin brother of Elrond and both were Half-elven. Half-elves must decide to become mortal as Men or immortal as Elves. While Elrond became an Elf, Elros chose to become a Man. He would become a lord of the Edain and the first King of Númenor, taking the name Tar-Minyatur.

History

Elros and Elrond were born at the refugee camp at the Havens of Sirion during the darkest days of the First Age, when the forces of Morgoth controlled most of Beleriand. When the twins were just four years-old the Sons of Fëanor, corrupted by their Oath, assaulted the camp, seeking the Silmaril held by Eärendil. Elros' father was away, and Elwing barely escaped with the Silmaril, but the twins were captured. The were given to Maglor and Maedhros, the only Sons of Fëanor to repudiate their deeds, and were protected through the end of the First Age.

After the War of Wrath and the breaking of Beleriand, the twins chose their race and fate. Elros, now a lord of the Edain, led his people across the Great Sea, guided by Star of Eärendil, the holy light of his father. They arrived at the Isle of Elenna, a giant island raised by the Valar for those Men who had fought with the Elves against the forces of Morgoth. Elenna was now the land closest to the Undying Lands, where Men where forbidden. The Valar declared the Ban of the Valar so that no mortal would sail west to Valinor. In exchange the Edain were granted substantially longer life-spans.

Elros became the first King of the nation of Númenor in Second Age 32. He took a royal name in Quenya, Tar-Minyatur, thus setting a tradition of Quenya being the royal language even though the common tongue was Adûnaic. He brought with him the Ring of Barahir and Thingol's sword Aranrúth as family heirlooms. Throughout his reign the kingdom received gifts from the Elves of Tol Eressëa, including flowers from the gardens of Yavanna and a seed from the Celeborn. This was the beginning of a long friendship with the Elves of the West, a relationship that would define the future of the Númenor.

Tar-Minyatur had four children: three sons, Vardamir Nólimon, Manwendil, and Atanalcar, and one daughter, Tindómiel. After 500 years of life, and 410 years of rule, Tar-Minyatur died and his son Vardamir Nólimon took up the Sceptre of Númenor as Tar-Vardamir. He was only a titular king, however, and immediately abdicated to his son, Tar-Amandil.

Etymology

Elros' name may mean "Elf of the Spray", based on a tale from his early childhood. The Sons of Fëanor abducted Elros and his brother Elrond, but when Maedhros found them they were playing in a forest waterfall. In The Silmarillion, however, editor Christopher Tolkien interprets Elros as meaning "Star-foam".

Elros' kingly name, Tar-Minyatur, is Quenya for "High First Lord" (from tar = "high", minya = "first", tur = "master, lord")

Genealogy

                                 Eärendil = Elwing
                                          |
                              ____________|____________
                             |                         |
                             |                         |
                      ELROS TAR-MINYATAUR            Elrond
                             |
         ____________________|_________________
        |              |           |           |
        |              |           |           |
Vardamir Nólimon   Tindómiel   Manwendil   Atanalcar
        |
        |
Kings of Númenor

Preceded by:
none
1st King of Númenor
II 32 – 442
Followed by:
Tar-Vardamir